Cancer Class 4 - Radiation & Massage Therapy

Question 1

Radiation is almost always a _____ and ________ treatment of cancer.

Answer 1

Local
Specific

Question 2

T/F - Radiation cannot actually cause cancer.

Answer 2

False - Radiation CAN actually cause cancer.

Question 3

A type of cancer treatment that scrambles the DNA and RNA of cells, meaning it has the capacity to either destroy them entirely or impact their ability to go through mitosis.

Answer 3

Radiation

Question 4

T/F - Almost half of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy and it is directed at an area that is likely to harbour the most cancer cells.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

________ ____ radiation is a traditional type of radiation where patients will have small tattoos to mark specific coordinates. This ensures that the radiation lines up the same way every time.

Answer 5

External Beam

Question 6

T/F - Radiation only targets cancer cells, therefore no damage is caused to other structures the beam goes through, such as muscle and bone tissue.

Answer 6

False - Radiation DOESN’T JUST target cancer cells, therefore damage is caused to other structures the beam goes through, such as muscle and bone tissue.

Question 7

T/F - Surgery is the most effective treatment for cancer.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

_________ therapy is preferred for an area of importance that should not be removed, such as the larynx.

Answer 8

Radiation

Question 9

Radiation can be used to shrink _______, allowing for a safer and more effective surgery.

Answer 9

Tumours

Question 10

Radiation can be used as a precaution to kill residual cancer cells post-_______, even if _____ margins were achieved.

Answer 10

Surgery
Clear

Question 11

T/F - Radiation has no effect on an inoperable tumour.

Answer 11

False - Radiation CAN HELP MANAGE an inoperable tumour.

Question 12

Radiation has __________ uses, such as addressing areas of excessive pain. This doesn’t always work if the pain is not tissue-related.

Answer 12

Palliative

Question 13

T/F - Some cancer types are more resilient to radiation therapy compared to others.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

What are the 3 types of radiation?

Answer 14

1) External Beam Radiation
2) Internal Radiation
3) Systemic Radiation

Question 15

Most radiation treatments take about ___ minutes, and the patient will have to remain in the same position for the entire treatment. Everyone’s ____ will react differently.

Answer 15

45 minutes
Skin

Question 16

The most common type of radiation therapy that follows a consistent schedule. A machine aims radiation at the cancer and the beam passes through all tissues in line with it.

Answer 16

External Beam Radiation (aka. Teletherapy)

Question 17

T/F - External beam radiation is dangerous to massage therapists, as it remains in the patient’s body and leaves them radioactive.

Answer 17

False - External beam radiation is NOT dangerous to massage therapists, as it GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH the patient’s body and DOES NOT leave them radioactive.

Question 18

A type of radiation therapy where a seed, wire or rod is implanted into the patient’s body close to an existing tumour or surgical site to clean up the area.

Answer 18

Internal Radiation (aka. Brachytherapy)

Question 19

T/F - Internal radiation is not as common as external beam radiation.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

T/F - Internal radiation can stay in the body for days to months, however the patient is not considered radioactive when they have the source in their body.

Answer 20

False - Internal radiation can stay in the body for days to months, THEREFORE the patient IS considered radioactive when they have the source in their body.

Question 21

Patients undergoing internal radiation can be ___________ or not allowed in the same room as someone who is pregnant or immunocompromised.

Answer 21

Quarantined

Question 22

________ radiation can involve temporary or permanent implantation, and the amount of radiation that reaches the skin is usually ___.

Answer 22

Internal
Low

Question 23

A type of radiation therapy where the patient recieves injections of radioactive substance or sometimes they will swallow a source of radiation (e.g. thyroid cancer) depending on the type of cancer they have.

Answer 23

Systemic Radiation (aka. Interstitial Brachytherapy)

Question 24

T/F - Systemic radiation will make the patient’s sweat, urine, stool and saliva radioactive for a period of time.

Answer 24

True

Question 25

With external beam radiation, the site becomes increasingly _______ for the patient due to being receptively burned in the same area.

Answer 25

Painful

Question 26

T/F - Most people underestimate the degree of fatigue cancer patients undergoing radiation experience.

Answer 26

True

Question 27

Radiation can cause possible ______ for the patient due to direct impact on associated organs like the stomach.

Answer 27

Nausea

Question 28

Since radiation beams don't just bounce off the skin, massage therapists must consider _____ and ____ burns related to patient positioning and techniques used.

Answer 28

Entry & Exit

Question 29

T/F - Massage therapists cannot make radiation burns worse with oil, water, pressure or mechanical stresses.

Answer 29

False - Massage therapists CAN make radiation burns worse with oil, water, pressure or mechanical stresses.

Question 30

Massage oil conducts ___________ easily and can intensify a radiation burn. ____ hydrotherapy negates what the radiation process is trying to achieve.

Answer 30

Temperature Cold

Question 31

Onsite work to a radiation burn is a _____ ________ contraindication for massage therapists. The patient should be asked for a list of ____________ related to the area of radiation.

Answer 31

Local Absolute Restrictions

Question 32

T/F - Cornstarch, neutral showers and specific creams can be soothing for radiation burns.

Answer 32

True

Question 33

Radiation therapy can contribute to _______ issues, such as presence of blisters and overall skin breakdown.

Answer 33

Hygiene

Question 34

If there is skin breakdown, massage therapists want to follow the __ inch avoidance rule.

Answer 34

4 inch

Question 35

Due to ____________ of radiation applications, cancer patients typically endure a heal/burn cycle.

Answer 35

Reoccurrence

Question 36

There is a risk of weakness or _________ of structures with radiation therapy, with both short term and long term effects.

Answer 36

Fragility

Question 37

T/F - Skin, blood vessels and lymph vessels are damaged initially with radiation, but can be permanently weakened in the long term.

Answer 37

False - Skin, blood vessels and lymph vessels are damaged initially with radiation, but RECOVER WELL AFTER TREATMENTS HAVE ENDED.

Question 38

Structures like _____, _______ and ligaments have slower cell replication rates, therefore they can be permanently weakened in the long term by radiation.

Answer 38

Bones Tendons

Question 39

____________ rib fractures are expected post-mastectomy in combination with radiation therapy.

Answer 39

Pathological

Question 40

Radiation can cause _____ irritation or damage due to inflammation, with both short term and long term effects.

Answer 40

Nerve

Question 41

Match the following descriptions with the corresponding term. 1) Lack of sensation 2) Diminished sensation 3) Increased sensation 4) Tingling sensation 5) Painful sensation A) Paraesthesia B) Hyperesthesia C) Anaesthesia D) Dysaesthesia E) Hypoesthesia

Answer 41

1) Lack of sensation = C) Anaesthesia 2) Diminished sensation = E) Hypoesthesia 3) Increased sensation = B) Hyperesthesia 4) Tingling sensation = A) Paraesthesia 5) Painful sensation = D) Dysaesthesia

Question 42

T/F - There will be decreased nerve firing during the radiation procedure, and things will pick up once radiation is complete.

Answer 42

False - There will be INCREASED nerve firing during the radiation procedure, and things will SETTLE DOWN once radiation is complete.

Question 43

It is very ________ that a radiation patient will get full sensation back in an area of nerve damage.

Answer 43

Unlikely

Question 44

Massage therapists must use their best _________ regarding when to begin onsite work. They must also be aware that _______ can persist as long as a year for the patient post-radiation procedure.

Answer 44

Judgement Fatigue

Question 45

T/F - Radiation impacts tissue densities, such as adipose tissue shrinking and losing flexibility. This would be a great place for massage therapists to do fascial work.

Answer 45

True

Question 46

There can be long term skin ___________ to heat, pressure and the sun for areas that have undergone radiation threapy.

Answer 46

Sensitivity

Question 47

T/F - Radiation therapy does not impact the functionality of vital organs like the heart and lungs.

Answer 47

False - Radiation therapy CAN POTENTIALLY impact the functionality of vital organs like the heart and lungs.